Four additional vessels operated by South Korean shipping companies have exited the Strait of Hormuz, authorities said Wednesday, Reuters reported.
With four vessels having left the area, 18 South Korean-linked ships remain in the strategic waterway, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The vessels safely transited the strait and are sailing normally, according to the ministry. A total of 26 South Korean sailors were aboard the four ships, including one vessel bound for South Korea.
The latest departures bring the number of South Korean-operated vessels that have transited the Strait of Hormuz to six since the US-Iran agreement last week eased restrictions on shipping through the waterway.
The ministry declined to disclose details of the vessels, citing ongoing safety concerns and the interests of shipping companies.
"Given that the vessels are still passing through a high-risk area, and out of consideration for crew safety and the positions of shipping companies, we cannot disclose detailed transit information," the ministry said.
The four vessels include a very large crude carrier, according to government officials, The Korea Herald reported.
With the latest departures, the number of Korean-operated vessels in the Persian Gulf has fallen to 18. The number of South Korean sailors in the region has also decreased to 108, including 75 aboard South Korean-operated vessels and 33 serving on foreign-flagged ships.
The latest transits mark the fourth successful passage by South Korean-linked vessels since shipping disruptions began following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.
South Korean shipping company HMM's very large crude carrier Universal Winner became the first Korean-run vessel to navigate the strait since the war broke out, on May 20, and later arrived off Ulsan on June 10. A liquefied natural gas carrier operated by SK Shipping followed on June 11 after its Pakistani charterer independently coordinated passage with Iranian authorities.
The Odessa, run by Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers Management was the first tanker to deliver oil to Korea from the gulf, exiting the strait in April and arriving in Daesan, South Chungcheong Province on May 8.
Following the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, two tankers operated by South Korea's Sinokor Merchant Marine transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, becoming the first Korean-operated vessels to do so since the deal was announced.
Under the interim agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, Iran has agreed to allow vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without transit fees during a 60-day negotiation period aimed at reaching a permanent settlement.
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